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Originally Posted by wsm0807

with the exception of ladders there is not one single company tool on my truck and thats how I like it. These are MY tools that I bought to work in my chosen profession. Ive had my boss repair tools over the years and Ive financed them thru the company but I like knowing the tools on my truck will work and be properly maintained. I did have a company ext. ladder stolen once because I didnt lock it to the rack. I got chewed out so bad It still hurts to sit on cold days. Cool in cayman FWIW I have reminded the office to charge me for tools. A pair of channel locks or something aren't worth losing your job

That's great that you have your own tools and when you do purchase something on the company account you remind the office to take it out of your check. Sadly most don't and this is part of the management of the tool equation that I am not interested in taking on.

The way I do it, I pay to use my employee's tools so I am still paying for the tools, the only difference is I am not responsible for the tools when they are lost or broken. The tech doesn't have to come to me for anything related to tools. They can lose them, abuse them, hock them, whatever they want and i don't have to get mad about it or question how it happened, it's not my problem. I don't have to go to a tech and say, hey you bought a new meter at johnstones two months ago on the company account and never said anything about it...
I don't want to manage tools, I would prefer to spend management resources on finding more work so my employees have a job to come to each day.

I have been on both sides of the equation and as a tech i would have been happier to have my boss pay me for me tools and let me manage them.
Even though it's silly, tools can cause friction between the boss and employee, my way of doing things eliminates that.

Having said all of that, there are certain shop tools that the company provides simply because they are not used as often and are much easier to keep track of and there are always exceptions to the policy on a case by case basis.

I would expect a tech to have all general hand tools (spanners, screwdrivers, hammers and so on) and specialist hand tools flare, upto 1 5/8" tubbies.
An apprentice I supply all hand tools over his apprenticeship which becomes his as the end of his apprenticeship.
Any specialist tools, I supply, but if a tech has is own, then I will repair or replace if work related.
I supply all consumable tools, drills bits, blades, batteries (even cordless tools)
If a tech wants his own tools, I will purchase for him, as I get better tax right offs, I do pass on my right offs to the tech (win win, in my opinion)
I do expect tools to looked after, but I also know that tools are pushed in this trade and are misused to complete a job. How many times do we use tools in the wet, when we know really should not??.
I cover the insurance for tools that are in my vans or are used on my client sites. (regardless them who owns them)

What about specialized tools.
Power analyzer, rotary drill etc
The high end tools that cost thousands.
I guess my belief is that employers should have the real big ticket items available for techs to use. Crescent wrenches and such are are not something employers should have to worry about.
Techs should own all there hand tools and some of the pricy stuff. But asking us to purchase things such as test and balance equipment would be uncalled for.
Anybody disagree?

I couldnt agree more

Originally Posted by yunggun

When i say replace my broken tools im talking maybe one a year. For example my clamp on thermocouple broke. Boss had no problem buying a new one. My tools are never abused because im the one that bought them all and have respect for what I own. And im pretty sure the cost of all your tools are figured into the cost of running your buisness. When you get paid hourly how are you suppose to compensate for a loss. Side job?

When I hire someone, one of the things that determines their pay rate is whether or not they provide their own tools.

A guy who has NO tools makes less than a guy who has SOME tools who makes less than a guy who has ALL tools.

We're tradesmen. Owning our own tools is a matter of professional pride. If you "can't afford" the tools of your trade, then the employer isn't the problem.

You bring me a broken clamp-on thermocouple that does not appear abused, and I'll replace it. But, I won't replace a crescent wrench that has obviously been used as a hammer.

When i say replace my broken tools im talking maybe one a year. For example my clamp on thermocouple broke. Boss had no problem buying a new one. My tools are never abused because im the one that bought them all and have respect for what I own. And im pretty sure the cost of all your tools are figured into the cost of running your buisness. When you get paid hourly how are you suppose to compensate for a loss. Side job?

Originally Posted by yunggun

Im glad my employer buys me new tools if mine break while being used on his jobs. Now if i lose my tools im screwed. Thats something that all companys ive ever interviewed at or worked at did. If my tool breaks i dont have the money to replace how am i suppose to make the company any money?

How often do tools "break"....while being used for their intended purpose?

Tools typically break from abuse....using them in ways other than their intended purpose.

Why should an employer pay to replace an abused tool?

Who pays to replace MY tools when I break or lose them?

Im glad my employer buys me new tools if mine break while being used on his jobs. Now if i lose my tools im screwed. Thats something that all companys ive ever interviewed at or worked at did. If my tool breaks i dont have the money to replace how am i suppose to make the company any money?

Originally Posted by John Markl

I've yet to have an employee bring me a "worn out" tool for replacement. Now, broken tools....that's a different story.

They lose them, before they're worn out....or I find them worn out/rusted out when I clean out their trucks after termination, or while on vacation.

If you lose a tool.....no...."Daddy John" ain't gonna buy you a new one.

Bring me a legitimately worn out tool, and I'll replace it....but it doesn't happen.

For you guys who expect employers to provide everything.....do you have any friends who are auto mechanics ? Ask them about tools to do their jobs.....

Tools that the shop should provide IS a recovery machine . Thats it. Now if you have a tool replacement program as incentive make sure the terms of what qualifies for replacement is understood.

Good tools don't just wear out and if I brake a pair of Kline dikes and can just trade them in. Lifetime warranty.

I kind of laughed when my now boss interviewed me alnost 9 years ago.

He brought up tool replacement like it was a huge perk. 9 years and he's never had to replace anything I OWN.

If I lose it I replace it. Techs interviewing need to understand a tool replacement incentive applies to the narrowest of margins.

with the exception of ladders there is not one single company tool on my truck and thats how I like it. These are MY tools that I bought to work in my chosen profession. Ive had my boss repair tools over the years and Ive financed them thru the company but I like knowing the tools on my truck will work and be properly maintained. I did have a company ext. ladder stolen once because I didnt lock it to the rack. I got chewed out so bad It still hurts to sit on cold days. Cool in cayman FWIW I have reminded the office to charge me for tools. A pair of channel locks or something aren't worth losing your job

Originally Posted by jrmech

drills, gauges, multimeters can easily be worn out/become defective, small hand tools get lost I agree but those aren't that one that hurt the pocket book.

I still use my Fluke 87 that Ive had for 20 years every day. Also a Fluke 321 Clamp Meter and an old " Transmation " for signal generation. 4 to 20 out or 0 to 10 dc.

That thing looks as old as I am.

Drills yea. The batteries will wear out. Guages definitely and now a lot faster with 410A as the 410A. rated houses will "blister " on a hot day.

Originally Posted by John Markl

Very rarely, if they're treated with the same respect that employees expect from their employers....Stuff like that lasts me a decade or better.

I treat my tools as I'm treated.


I'm worked hard and I expect my tools to keep up. When they do not or can not, they are JUNK and need to be replaced.

I get little mercy from an employer in terms of working conditions, so why wouldn't my tools be expected to keep up?

Originally Posted by jrmech

drills, gauges, multimeters can easily be worn out/become defective, small hand tools get lost I agree but those aren't that one that hurt the pocket book.

Very rarely, if they're treated with the same respect that employees expect from their employers....Stuff like that lasts me a decade or better.

Originally Posted by John Markl

I've yet to have an employee bring me a "worn out" tool for replacement. Now, broken tools....that's a different story.

They lose them, before they're worn out....or I find them worn out/rusted out when I clean out their trucks after termination, or while on vacation.

If you lose a tool.....no...."Daddy John" ain't gonna buy you a new one.

Bring me a legitimately worn out tool, and I'll replace it....but it doesn't happen.

For you guys who expect employers to provide everything.....do you have any friends who are auto mechanics ? Ask them about tools to do their jobs.....

drills, gauges, multimeters can easily be worn out/become defective, small hand tools get lost I agree but those aren't that one that hurt the pocket book.

I work for a small family owned business. They supply ladders, torches, vacuum pumps, leak detector, carbon monoxide detector, scales. Said they would also supply hand tools when I started, but I've since bought my own, which i think i prefer. Along with meter, gauges, and power tools. They recently bought me a set of digital gauges that was a nice surprise. But have the stipulation you break them you buy them cause the gauges are rather spendy. They will also loan me money to buy whatever i need.

I have all my own tools I like it that way I even have my own recovery tank Haha I don't have to worry for extra side work owner saying anything bout using his tools ya know

most companies i worked at supplied truck, ladders, vacuum pump , and recovery machine (only because it's required by law to have recovery in a HVAC truck)

these days they don't want to supply that anymore.

Sears gave us a carbon monoxide tester, which was nice, but the rest of their tools i didn't even use

what is normal charge to customer for

recovery unit
vac pump
leak detector (electronic)
??

For example you leave your vac pump on the system overnight.

Do not use (or quote) slurs like the one deleted in posts here.

Originally Posted by John Markl

I've yet to have an employee bring me a "worn out" tool for replacement. Now, broken tools....that's a different story.

They lose them, before they're worn out....or I find them worn out/rusted out when I clean out their trucks after termination, or while on vacation.

If you lose a tool.....no...."Daddy John" ain't gonna buy you a new one.

Bring me a legitimately worn out tool, and I'll replace it....but it doesn't happen.

For you guys who expect employers to provide everything.....do you have any friends who are auto mechanics ? Ask them about tools to do their jobs.....

I agree, I don't think I've ever seen a worn out tool.

i've probably replaced tens of thousands of dollars in lost tools too. 5 page invoice from supplier with two tools buried in it on a regular basis. Invoice get's paid with tools overlooked or forgotten, tech gets free tools. And of course when they don't see it come out of their check, they ain't gonna say anything. Never once did anyone ever come to me and say, i bought a tool last month and it never came out of my check, can you make sure I get charged for it.

"where's" the vacuum pump that was on truck 25"? I don't know I switched trucks when it broke down, when I got it back the vacuum pump was gone. I need one for my job today. "ok stop and get one"...

I've bought tools for guys who have had their tools stolen too. Funny how some people manage to get their tools stolen so many times.

I'm done with that. I'll pay upfront for the tools and then I don't want to hear about them anymore, not my problem.